PhotoNOLA soon, concurrent with Prospect.1; many public events not to be missed!

I’m packing up to head to PhotoNOLA and couldn’t be more excited to see the great folks at the New Orleans Photo Alliance (NOPA), the organizers of this portfolio review event now in its third year, as well as photographers and industry colleagues. If you are participating in the reviews, I’d refer you back to my blog of 8/13/08; my preparation advice is posted at this link.

Many of the PhotoNOLA events are open to the public – I hope to see you there!

New Orleans Museum of Art + Thursday December 4, 2008 + 7-10pm
Tickets are $20 – available at the door

Food, drinks, music and photography! Help us kick off the Third Annual Month of Photography in style! The PhotoGALA Benefit Party will feature a silent auction of contemporary photography, music by the Preservation Hall-Stars performances by Fleur de Tease, food from Herbsaint, Dante’s Kitchen, Nola Bean and others. Beverages generously provided by Abita Brewery, Cork & Bottle, Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana and Old New Orleans Rum… so come take part in some positively devilish fun.

Cocktail attire suggested.

New Orleans Museum of Art
One Collins Diboll Circle, City Park
New Orleans, LA 70124
504-658-4100http://www.noma.org

Friday, December 5th at The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC), 416 Chartres Street, 7 pm
“The New Orleans Photo Alliance is thrilled to announce a slideshow and lecture by legendary photographer Bruce Davidson, on the opening weekend of PhotoNOLA. Thanks to the generous support of Canon this event is free and open to the public. The lecture will take place on Friday, Dec 5, 2008, from 7-9pm, at the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Doors open at 6pm. Seating is limited and advance registration is recommended. Please RSVP here

“The New Orleans Photo Alliance is pleased to announce a photographers’ portfolio night at the International House Hotel on Saturday December 6th. The Review PhotoNOLA Portfolio Walk will feature 65 photographers who are participating in the weekend Portfolio Review, displaying their work for a public walk through.

The Portfolio Walk is free and open to the public and will take place from 4:30-6pm at 220 Camp St., New Orleans, in the second floor ballroom of the International House Hotel.

“This is an exciting addition to the PhotoNOLA calendar of events,” said Vanessa Brown, Review Chairperson. “We have photographers coming in from every region of the U.S. and as far away as Colombia to take part in the reviews this year. The Portfolio Walk will offer the public at large an opportunity to see an incredible range of great photography, from cutting edge documentary to romantic fine art, including rising stars such as Susan Burnstine from L.A. and Lance Rosenfield from Texas, and many other names you’ll be hearing more of in the future.”

“You are invited to the opening of “GUNS ‘n US”, a photography exhibition that explores gun ownership and the cost of gun violence in America, this Saturday December 6th from 6-9pm at The Darkroom’s Lower Garden District gallery space on Sophie Wright Place.

Four photographers will show award-winning work that represents their response to the pervasiveness of guns and violence in our society. They are Kyle Cassidy (Philadelphia, PA), Donna De Cesare (Austin, TX), Andre Lambertson (New York, NY) and Frank Relle (New Orleans, LA).

The fight to uphold the right to bear arms, and the struggle to end the violence associated with guns seem to compete against each other. The statistics are instructive. Half of American households have at least one gun owner according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Everyday, on average, 83 Americans – nine of whom are children – are killed by guns. Injuries and deaths related to guns cost $34 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity.

The four artists in GUNS ‘n US have created challenging and passionate photographic essays that contribute to the fractious conversations surrounding the high prevalence of guns and violence in America.”

Kyle Cassidy will be available to sign his book “Armed America” at the opening reception.

GUNS ‘n US was curated by Lori Waselchuk for the 3rd annual PhotoNOLA Festival. It is a satellite exhibition of Prospect One, the largest exhibition of contemporary art in the United States.

About Review PhotoNOLA:
PhotoNOLA’s Portfolio Review program offers photographers the chance to present their work to influential members of the photographic community. Twenty-minute, one-on-one meetings with gallery owners, editors, publishers and museum curators from around the U.S. and abroad provide photographers with networking opportunities, critical advice, and guidance for bringing their work to a larger audience. Past PhotoNOLA review participants have been hired for magazine assignments, awarded solo shows, featured in Photo District News, and selected by galleries for representation.

The New Orleans Photo Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006, whose mission is to encourage the understanding and appreciation of photography through exhibitions, opportunities, and educational programs. PhotoNOLA is a month-long celebration of photography in New Orleans, coordinated by the New Orleans Photo Alliance in partnership with galleries, museums and photographers citywide. December 2008 marks the third annual series of events.

Concurrent contemporary art events happening at many venues in New Orleans:PROSPECT.1

“Prospect.1 New Orleans has been conceived in the tradition of the great international biennials, and showcases new artistic practices as well as an array of programs benefiting the local community. Over the course of its eleven-week run, Prospect.1 New Orleans will draw international media attention, creative energy and economic activity to the City of New Orleans.”

Prospect.1 is currently on view at over two dozen official venues throughout New Orleans from Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 AM to 6 PM. (Some venues may open or close earlier; please consult the official venue list for links to more information.

Although all Prospect.1 venues are free during exhibition hours, you must have a ticket for admission.
You can obtain your free admission ticket at the Contemporary Arts Center, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Old U.S. Mint in addition to the Prospect.1 Welcome Center at the Hefler Warehouse (851 Magazine Street; see below). Your ticket will be valid for the entire duration of the exhibition.

“the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, opened to the public on November 1, 2008 in museums, historic buildings and found sites throughout New Orleans. Visit www.prospectneworleans.org”